Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-06-17

command of the United States govern
ment for war purposes, and expressed the
opinion that the South could only be sue
cessful by possibiAtQ. He spoke OF the
North in the kindest terms and said from
his position in the army it had been his
lot to know them better in years past than
he had known our own people. The South
he thought might have the advantage at
first, but in year we would find they had
made themselves equal with US, and, be-
sides, they had an organized government
while we were cut off from the world and
without its sympathy.
THE FIRST VIRGINIA COMPANY ENLIST
ED FOE THE WAR.
When I returned to camp, wanted the
Staunton Artillery enlisted for the war,
and mustered them. 1 called on every
man willing to enlist for the war to step
to the front, and every man but three
stepped. The three, at once ordered
under arrest for INSTRUMENTATION laugh
ter.) I then went to Gen. Jackson and,
presenting him the enlistment, said:
"There General is your first company from
Virginia enlisted for the war;"
CAMP LIFE AT HARPER's FERRY.
The General told some amusing incl
dents of camp life at Harper's Ferry. One
was the punishment given Northern
preacher who was found in the camp en-.
deavoring to persuade the private soldiers
that it was a war for slavery in which
they were not interested and they should
not aid it. He was taken to the river by
the Artillery boys and there Private Thefs
Long completed the ceremony by baptiz-
ing him 'In the name of the Confedera-
cy." That was his last appearance in
camp.
In speaking of the discipline of the COM
pany, Gen. lmboden mentioned the fact
that on the march from Harper's
Ferry to Manassas the company halted in
Charlestown, and while the members of
the other commands swarmed through the
town after food the Staunton artillerymen
| obeyed orders and not man left the bat
| terry. The result was that the citizens sent
| to the battery all the men wanted.
THEIR FIRST PITCHED BATTLE.
A description of the company's expert
ence at Manassas was given. The lecturer
thought that but for the battery holding
I a position long after there was no infantry
support near, and long after an order had
| been sent to it to retire-the bearer
| of which message was killed before getting
| to the company-the enemy would have
occupied position from which they could
not be driven, and that event would prob
ably have changed the result of that
battle. He drew an entertaining picture
of Tom Shumate, in the elation Of victory
shaking hands with President Davis who
had just come On the field, and insisting
on introducing him-"Mr. President,
here is my captain; 1 want to introduce
you to him.
| Gen. Imboden told about the s'lazy
mess''; about Tom Hartman, "the bravest
man he ever knew, and IN conclusion
said the record of the Staunton Artillery,
through all the great battles from Manas.
sas to Appomattox, would always be
on the brightest page of the history
of thes Army of Northern Virginia, and
none will be more glorious when it is
called out again under the Stars and
Stripes. Great applause.) The speaker
alluded to the fact that the battery had
/ stood at the first Manassas in front of the
famous Ricketts, battery of the Union
Army and had not flinched, but held it's
own successfully under its terrific fire.
He referred to Gen. Averill, who was
on the stage, as a gallant soldier who
had never made war on women and chill
dren,' and the applause was SO long that
it was some time before the lecturer could
| proceed.
Gen. Imboden, in conclusion. said his
connection with the company was severed
in front OF Yorktown in 1852 when Presi-
| dent Davis sent for him and promoted him
to a command in another field.
The lecture closed at 10 o'clock and all
felt that the time had been pleasantly and
proitably spent.
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